Automatic switch



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK B. KEER, 0F ROSEBANK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COM-PANY, INCORPORATED, or NRW YoRx,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

Application led July 9,

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK B. KERR, a citi- Zen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Rosebank, in the county of Richmond and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, 0f which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description.

This invention relates to automatic switching apparatus and moreparticularly to the switches of the type known as coordinate switchesadapted for establishing connections in an automatic or semi-automatictelephone exchange system.

The object of the invention is to provide a switching device of the typereferred to above, in which certain sets of active contacts are movedselectively into` engageable relation with sets of associated grid wiresin a simple and positive manner and wherein the number of operatingparts is reduced to a minimum.

A feature of the invention resides in mounting the card lifting fingerson stationary supports together with the provision of selecting barshaving camming members for moving the lifting fingers served therebycollectively into operable relation with respectively associatedoperating arms.

Another feature is the provision of means whereby the free end portionsof the lifting fingers are adapted to be moved in a plurality ofdifferent directions for selectively moving their associated activecontacts into engagement with associated passive contacts through themovement of cooperating bars therefor.

Another feature is the provision of means for moving the selected cardlifting finger out of engageable relation with its respectivelyassociated operating arm wherein any subsequent movement of theselecting bar is ineffective to disturb the connections alreadyestablished.

Other features and advantages will appear from the followingdescription, in which Fig. l is a partial front assembly view of saidswitch showing one set of active contacts in engagement with itsassociated grid wires. Fig. 2 is a right side view thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

The switch structure shown in Fig. l generally consists of a pluralityof sets of active contacts arranged in coordinate rows on in- 1923.Serial No. 650,265.

sulating supports 24, one of which is shown 1n Fig. 2. Each set ofactive contacts generally consists of a plurality of bare wires 20, 2l,22 and 28 which are iixedly arranged 1n their respectively associatedinsulating supports 24:. These supports are disposed in parallelrelation to each other and are secured at both ends to the switch frame(not shown). The structure may be of any desired width and height toaccommodate as many vertical rows of active Contact sets and as manysets per row as may berequired. The active contact wires 20, 2l, 22 and23 extend laterally from both sides of supports 24, one end beingadapted to be normally connected to incoming wire conductors (not shown)and the other end extending through oblique apertures 25, 26, 27 and 28in an operating card 29 in juxtaposition with associated grid wires 30,8l, 32 and 33, disposed coordinately to their associated active contacts20, 21, 22 and 23, and held secure-ly at each end in a frame not shown).

They operating cards 29 of each vertical row are slidably arranged in asuitable guiding member provided with stops 6l adapted to hold theretracting springs 52 and their associated operating cards 29 inadjusted position with reference to their associated active contacts 20,21, 22, 23, etc. For each set of active contacts 20, 2l, 22 and 23,there is associated a resilient operating finger 84, which is secured inthe insulating support 24, and the free ends of which extend in operablerelation with their respectively associated operating cards 29.

For each vertical row of act-ive contacts there is provided a verticallydisposed rotatable bar 35, each provided with a plurality of laterallyextending arms 36, each associated with an operating finger 34. On oneend portion of each bar 35 there is securely arranged an armature 37adapted to rotate its associated bar 35 and the arms 36 carried therebyin response to the energization of an electromagnet 38. For eachhorizontal row of active contacts there is provided a horizontallydisposed rotatable bar 39, on which the operating arms 40 are secured.Each arm 40 is associated with a card 29 and an operating iinger 34:. Itis to be noted that normally the arm l-O is free to move alongside ofits associated operating finger 34 without engaging it as shown in thelower left hand example in Fig. l.

On one end portion ot bar 39 there is secured an armature 41 adapted torotate its associated bar and the operating arms i() carried thereby inresponse to each energization of electromagnet 4t2. When the bar 35 ismoved from normal to operated position, the operating arms 36 carriedthereby move their` associated operating lingers 3ft collectively intooperative engagement with their operating arms 40, whereby a movement ofoperating` bar 89 is effective to move the card located at theintersecting point of the particulai` bar 35 and the particular bar 39.The active contacts served thereby are moved into contacting engagementwith their associated grid wires. The operating iinger 3st is thereuponheldL out of operable relation with member 36 by virtue of the cammingaction of the card 29 and the bar 35 may be returned to normal positionto participate in the establishment of other coexisting connectionswithout disturbing the connection already established. The bar 39together with operating arms 40 carried thereby remain in operatedposition throughout the duration oi' the connection. Upon thetermination of the connection, magnet a2 is deenergized and bar 39rotates to normal position whereupon the finger 34 releases the card 29and the switching` device is returned to normal.

This invention is an improvement of the type of switch disclosed inPatent No. 1,515,735, .granted to Charles L. Goodrum et al. on November18, 1924:.

lhat is claimed is:

1. In a coordinate switch structure, the combination of active andpassive contact sets, an operating card for each set of said activecontacts, means for operating said cards comprising a plurality ofresilient members, stationary supports for said mem bers, rotatable barsfor moving said members in operable relation with a plurality of saidcards, collectively, and other bars for moving said members intoengagement with said plurality of cards to cause the cooperation ot saidactive and passive contacts.

2. In a coordinate switch structure, the combination of sets o'l' activecontacts arranged in a row, an insulating support therefor, sets ofpassive contacts associated with said sets of active contacts, aselecting member for each of the first mentioned sets arranged on saidsupport and adapted to be ilexed in coordinate directions, a movable barfor operatively engaging saidwmembers collectively, and means foroperating said members individually to cause the inter-engagement of aset of active and passive contacts.

3. In a switching structure, the combination of sets ot active contacts,insulating supports therefor, sets ofpassive contacts associated withsaid active contacts, a'resilient member for each setol said activecontacts arranged securely on said supports, means for collectivelymoving a plurality olf said members, a rotatable bar 'tor each set ofsaid passive contacts, and means carried b v said bar for operativelyengaging said plurality oi? said members while held in actuated positionfor engaging said active and passive contacts.

4. In a coordinate switch structure, passive contacts, active contactsassociated therewith, insulating supports it'or said active contacts,selecting members arranged on said supports and adapted for horizontaland vertical tlexure, a bar, operating arms carried by said bar tormoving said members vertically but normally out of operable relationtherewith, another bar and means carried by the second mentioned bar formoving said members horizontally wherein a movement of the iirstmentioned bar is capable of interengaging said active and passivecontacts.

5. In a switching device, the combination of sets of active and passivecontacts, an upright support for each row of said. active contacts, aloosely mounted operating card supported on each of said sets of activecontacts, a resilient lifting linger 'for each set et active contactsarranged in said support and adapted to be moved in a horizontal and avertical direction sequentially, a pair of rotatable bars `lorselectively opcr ating said active contacts, cams attached to one ofsaid bars, operating members arranged on the other, a magnet foroperating the rst mentioned bar for moving said lingers horizontally inoperable relation with said operating cards and said memberscollectively, and a magnet for operating the second mentioned bar iormoving one of said lingers vertically to cause an interengagcmcnt oitsaid active and passive contacts selectively.

6. In a switching structure, sets of active contacts, insulatingsupports therefor, an operating card loosely mounted on each of saidsets, sets ot passive contacts associated with said sets of activecontacts, a mechanism for operating said active contacts consisting ofcoordinately disposed bars, resilient members fixedly arranged on saidsupports and adapted to be moved in a plurality of directionssequentially, said members having their tree end portions movablecollectively through their engagement with one of said bars to positionthemselves in operable relation with said operating cards, andindividually through the movement of another bar for moving one of saidoperating cards to ett'ect an interengagement of said active and passivecontacts.

7. In a switching device, sets of normally disengaged active and passivecontacts, a stationary support, an operating mechanism thereforconsisting of lifting fingers secured to said support and movableoperating cards associated with said active contacts, selective andoperating bars associated with said fingers7 camming members carried bythe selecting bar for moving the free end portions of said lingers inoperative relation With said operating cards collectively, and operatingarms carried by the operating bar for moving said lingers selectively'for engaging said contacts, said operating arms in conjunction withthe. movable operating cards being adapted to hold said lingers out ofthe path of said members wherein a subsequent movement of the seleo-tingbars is ineffective to disturb a connection already established.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 26th day of June, AD 1923.

:MARK B. KEER.

